Poinsettias: A Guide and History

Volume 4, Issue 45
December 20, 2013
Poinsettias: A Guide and History
Table of Contents
Poinsettias: A
Guide and History
What is a house decorated for the holidays
pg. 1
without Poinsettias? Poinsettias have long been
the most popular flowering plant for the holiday season, and it is a plant with an interesting
history.
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are
native to the area around Taxco, in the southern
Mexican state of Guerrero. This plant was cultivated by the Aztecs, who prized the plant they
called Cuetlaxochitl for the beauty of its colorful
flower bracts, long before Christianity arrived in
the Western Hemisphere. The indigenous people
of that region also used it for practical purposes, such as treating fevers and making purple
dye. As a short-day or winter-flowering plant,
Franciscan priests in the region began using it
as a part of Christmas celebrations in the 17th
century.
Poinsettias were named after the man who
first brought the plant to the United States, South
Carolinian Joel Robert Poinsett, who was an
amateur botanist and the first U.S. Ambassador
to Mexico. In 1825 he visited the Taxco area,
where he observed the plant flowering on hillsides around the town. In 1828, he sent plants
of the species to his greenhouses at his home in
Greenville, SC, where it was propagated and distributed to other botanists, such as John Bartram.
In 1902, Albert Ecke arrived in California
from Germany and began growing Poinsettias
as cut flowers. His family has continued to cultivate this plant in Southern California to this
day, and it was the Ecke’s who first developed
cultivars for use as a potted flowering plant for the Christmas season. At this point, it is one of the most
important floricultural crops in the country, according to the American Botanical Council.
Using Natural
Decorations
pg. 2
Lockerly Trustees
David Evans,
President
Joe Mangum,
Vice President
Sherrill Jones,
Secretary/Treasurer
Kathy Chandler
Rodger Flotta
Jan Flynn, Ph.D.
Doug R. Oetter, Ph.D.
Taylor Quedensley,
Ph.D.
Dede Reoch
Joni Smith
Bruce Vaughn, CFP
Al Woods
December 12 has been officially designated as National Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death of Joel Poinsett and celebrates
his discovery of America’s favorite Christmas plant. Pick one up today in colors of red, pink or white to add instant holiday cheer to
your home. Although Poinsettias are not necessarily easy to grow year-round, following these steps should guarantee your plant to last
through the holidays.
First and foremost, place your Poinsettia in a bright location, such as
near a window. Poinsettias are topical plants, and cannot withstand cold
temperatures, so keep them away from drafts. Keep your Poinsettia moist
at all times, but do not overwater. Today’s cultivars hold up well in normal
household conditions, but it’s probably not worth the effort to hold them
over and induce flowering for the following year. Also, although poinsettias
are tropical plants, they do not tolerate hot, dry condition, so be careful not
to place your plant near a heater. With a little care, your Poinsettias should
provide lots of festive color for your home throughout the holiday season.
Using Natural Decorations
If you have visited Lockerly Hall during the holidays, then you have seen how natural plant materials can be used to decorate your
home for the Christmas season. Foraged materials from your landscape can be turned into unique decorations that look traditionally
festive and often smell wonderful. The following ideas are easy enough to pull together in this last week before Christmas. Enjoy!
1.
Pinecones are not only abundant this time of year, but they make
great Christmas decorations! You can either gather some from your home
landscape or buy a bundle from your local craft store. Smaller pinecones
can be placed in a decorative bowl in the center of your dining table,
making a simple, elegant centerpiece. Surround the bowl with small
branches of Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar) for an even more
festive look. Other holiday-inspired ideas include adorning pinecones
with glitter or gluing them to a DIY wreath.
2.
Nothing screams ‘Christmas’ more than hung evergreen garlands. To add an instant pop of holiday cheer, gather cuttings from species
such as Cryptomeria japonica, xCupressus leyladii (Leyland Cypress),
Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia), or any of a number of evergreens – and wrap long bunches with wire or twine. String them along
your mantle, along a staircase, or around an entryway. Accent with pinecones or hollies with red fruits for an even merrier look.
3.
Another simple way to decorate naturally is with nuts and
berries. For an elegant look, place a candle on a glass pedestal and encircle it with gathered nuts – be they pecans, acorns or walnuts – for a simple
seasonal centerpiece. For an added punch of color, add red berries from
Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon Holly), Ilex verticlilata (Winterberry), Nandina
domestica (Heavenly Bamboo), or a similar plant. Red berries can also be
glued to wreaths or evergreen garlands.
Although Christmas is only a few days away, there is still time to decorate
your home for your and your loved ones’ enjoyment. These simple tips will add a
rustic charm to your holiday-inspired decorations. Merry Christmas!